#Black Star Canyon

[emperornorton47]

Chaparral Mallow

[best-views]

Black Star Canyon, Santa Ana mountains, California

Waterfall was pretty dry this fall!

[nocternalrandomness]

Low level through Sidewinder

[hometoursandotherstuff]

This is the house from HGTVs "The Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge," but as soon as the show wrapped they changed it. “The investors thought it would have higher resale value being a modern, beautiful, newly renovated home,” said the real estate agent, “They obviously weren’t going for the serious Barbie fans.” I'm a Barbie collector and there are lots of us. Someone would've bought it. Here are the befores and afters.

This is what it looks like now, and priced at $2,049,995 it just sold for $1.845M. I am so disappointed. Built in 1997, the 5bd, 5ba home is located in Canyon Country, California. HGTV looked at about 50 houses and finally bought this one for $1.750M. Each designer star team did a room and the team of  Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt of “100 Day Dream Home” won. When I was looking for before pics, a lot of the sites were no longer available- they didn't want us Barbie people to see the befores, I bet.

The family room before. I don't really care for the retro look.

Family room after. But, I don't like this white, either.

In the living room, the major features that the designers installed remain, like the two-story fireplace and the updated circular staircase. Everything else was changed to neutral gray, black & white.

The dining room. Man, they must've used an awful lot of white paint to cover up the deep colors.

The ’50s kitchen was stripped of the pastels and replaced with neutrals, but the retro Big Chill appliances—refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, stove, even the hood—are still in place, b/c they're very expensive. And, the pop-up appliance lifts on the island are still in place, too.

Ken's den wasn't changed much b/c it was cool, but they did remove the disco floor. Allison Victoria & Ty Pennington dancing on the disco floor.

Looks like they turned the walk-in closet/dressing room into an office.

It already had an office, so now it has two. Wow, they left the striped ceiling intact.

The new dull bedroom.

And, home gym.

The realtor wanted to buy the big brush on the wall, but was told that all the props had to go back to Mattel Toys.

And, finally, the pool. Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt won for their design on the pool and yard. Well, I see they kept the pink spiral stairs, yellow lifesaver and umbrella.

The dog elevator went back to Mattel, too.

https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/exclusive-the-barbie-dreamhouse-is-now-for-sale-but-prepare-to-be-shocked-by-its-whole-new-look/

[ms-demeanor]

Why do you like the desert?

good smells, good sounds, good animals. I like how dry the air is and I like sandstorms. I really really love it when it rains in the desert and the whole world smells like creosote and all the flowers open up in the morning. I like how clear the skies are and I like big tall stacks of thunderclouds and I like how bright the moonlight is and I like how many stars you can see. I like red rocks and sand dunes and the big cracks in dry lakebeds. I like lizards and roadrunners and big rangy hares and rattlesnakes and owls. I like going out on moonless nights to look for scorpions, because there are more of them out when the moon is down because it lets them hunt better and you can look for them with a black light and watch them glow. I like random people on ATVs buzzing past and letting the air out of the tires a little bit to get through the canyon. I like finding cabins that are getting eaten by the wind and are full of rat's nests and old books with the words weathered away. I like the way the line between the sky and the earth turns pink and blue at the beginning and the end of the day. I like seeing the milky way and watching meteors and hearing echoes and hearing nothing and hearing cicadas cicadas cicadas.

When my Uncle died, I drew these two pieces because locating him in my memory took me to these two places; a backyard with a fence between us and the coyotes as we looked up at the stars and a red rock canyon quiet and full of dark shadows.

The thing that I didn't draw is a man standing in a sandy flat surrounded by creosote bushes holding a kite-string in his teeth teeth and splicing it with his fishing line so that I could fly my little pink kite higher in the big blue sky than it was really meant to go.

goddamn do i love the desert and miss my family.

[kingprinceleo]

Vampire Au Master-ish Post

Summary -

Angel Island is the only life Sonic has ever known. Being trapped within the permanent barrier encasing the 8 islands isnt quite his style, so finding a way to destroy it and explore the world below has been his goal for as long as he can remember. Hes got a number of other things keeping him occupied however, trying to prevent the Robotnik family from taking over total control of the islands. 

When he isnt fighting them off, hes hanging out with his friends, living his best life being a vampire both day and night. When he wants to get everyone off his back, and feed from his favorite vampire hater, Shadow, he uses his magic staff to change his appearance into an alter ego, Hoax the "Tenrec.”

–

Vampire au is a generally slice of life episodic style au, mostly focused on being lighthearted and goofy. 

Occasionally plot driven with slightly heavier themes though. (And sometimes I hit the angst button for funsies)

Major Locations-

Angel Island- One main island and 7 smaller islands surrounding it, completely encased by an impenetrable barrier powered by the chaos emeralds. Separated into the Wild Zones and City Zones. 

City Zones are Geralds surveillance state, a massive sprawling city with high tech from Ivo. The second sector of the city, a bit farther out, is Ivos sandbox, filled with casinos and terrible attractions, and many of his bases. Both plan to expand further into the island, they beef a little over who gets what. 

Wild Zones are less developed areas further away from their reach, more community based overgrown homes. Left to nature and the recovery from old ruins. Sonic protects these areas with his life.

Sol- A pocket dimension, a society of majority vampires and mobians living peacefully together. The kingdom of Sol is a deep cave underground, with strange lush vegetation and ceiling so high it mimics the sky. There's massive tree roots buried deep in the canyon, an important food source for the vampires. 

Accessed by a closed gateway hidden deep within Angel Island. Sol is the origin of vampires.

The mainland- the rest of the world outside of Angel Island 

Characters-

Sonic- Bitten by a vampiric Chao around 5 years old, Sonic is a free spirited vampire who likes to live life a day at a time. He's thinks of himself as a smooth charmer, and he's a bit of a dater.

He loves the thrill of any sort of adventure he can dig his claws into on Angel Island, mostly stopping Eggman's onslaught of bots from trying to turn the untouched wild areas of the island into his newest casino. 

He's up both day and night, usually only crashing to take naps, or otherwise being forced to sleep by his friends. Though the sun hurts him, he finds himself always missing the days where he could soak in its rays.

Hoax, Sonics night form, is a purely cosmetic change he shifts into with his star staff, a gift from Amy. He uses it for days when he wants a break from people trying to Get Him 24/7. He used to use it to break into Eggman's bases, where a strange, but tasty artificial blood was being held. More recently it's become a way to secure drinking that blood from the host himself.

Shadow- Shadow is a paranoid mess of a man, with a deep running hatred for vampires, decked out in silver to keep them away. Though he prefers to be left alone, he will take any and all opportunities to kill a vampire if he suspects they want anything to do with him. It is often misguided. During the evening he works as a cook under Knuckles. During the night he heists the Robotniks facilities with Rouge, looking for any goods. 

Whenever he travels out to the city zones, he wears a mask and full outfit designed after a vulture to hide his identity since he's wanted by the city. 

Shadow has a special blood type, artificially made and containing black arms blood, it has strengthening and healing properties and tastes good to vampires ! Shadow tries to protect himself and his blood at all costs. Unfortunately he made a deal with Hoax to feed him. Also has no idea he has chaos control, the power is dormant in his body. Though he can manipulate the energy from Chaos Drives a little bit. He relies on guns and knifes day to day.

Amy- A half vampire seedrian witch. She's full of life and a bit quirky. She is learning to incorporate magic into all aspects of her life. A lot of attempts tend to cause chaos but she's always learning something new! She has a little bit of a crush on Sonic and has always dreamed of proposing to him with a ring that would protect him from the sun, though she isn't skilled enough to create it yet. Being a seedrian vampire means the flowers on her head need to photosynthesize under the moonlight to eat rather than drink blood. Though she does have a deep and instinctual urge to kill plants.

Tails- a lonely engineer, working on the edge of the city. New to teenagehood, he's edgy and grumpy all the time. He's very distant from his friends, incredibly insistent he's all grown up and needs no one but himself. 

Knuckles- a hard working farmer out in the wilds, using his produce to supply his pizza food truck, which recently upgraded to a brick and mortar restaurant. In his free time he goes around Angel Island to treasure hunt and learn about the history of the island, littered with many ruins of ages past. 

Rouge- a sneaky vampire who lives off the grid, completely unknown to the surveillance state of the city. Shadow lives with her in her home carved inside of a mountain to hide both of them. Huge fan of bat and blood themed decor. Shadow does Not know she's a vampire. Vampirism enhanced her bat features, incredibly good hearing to the point she needs to constantly wear noise canceling earbuds, and a massive wingspan.

She likes to rob the city, and exchange those goods for information from her shady dealers about gemstone hotspots on the island. Eventually she smooth talks her way into a position of power working under Queen Blaze of Sol to spy on Gerald.

Blaze- Queen of the pocket dimension Sol. A few gateways exist on Mobius, one residing on Angel Island, though it has been cut off for years until Rouge reactivated it. A cold but caring ruler, she controls the artificial sun in their kingdom, keeping all of her vampiric subjects safe and happy. Rarely ever makes time for herself. 

Silver- Blazes best friend who lives with her in the castle. (Need to add more for him :(). Works with Rouge and Mephiles dealing with matters on Angel Island. Eventually gets shark teeth from fusing with Mephiles too often.

Mephiles - Blazes comically evil advisor, she keeps him around because he's an old family friend, and an Ancient Vampire with vast power. Has no mouth to drink blood with, so he needs to possess the bodies of others. Silver willingly lets mephiles fuse with him, to feed, and to grant silver a power boost.

Gerald- after losing Maria he became very unwell, spending years accumulating power and taking control of the city. He's lost himself. Shadow was stolen from him years ago. He's still looking for him.

Black Doom- Doom wed that old man. Visited the day the barrier went up, now he's stuck here. Now that he's no longer able to take over the galaxy, his next evil plan was to become a landlord. Terrorizing people who live in the city. 

Maria- Died in a targeted mob attack on Angel Island, Chaos and Tikal pitied her and let her have a spot in the master emerald ghost club. 

Random lil plot stuff- 

Sonic is a regular at Knuckles pizza place, likes to be annoying. One day they Will make him a chili dog pizza. Knuckles hopes he explodes but Shadow actually wants to kill him. He's not allowed to jump Sonic on the clock or else his pay gets docked </3

Random little bits about Sonic trying to steal from the claw machine and getting stuck, and trying to get a “delivered in under 30 minutes or free” pizza from the restaurant.

Sonic started a trend of extreme gear racing in Hydro City. He can also do a bunch of little party tricks with his star staff and knows nothing useful.

Shadow has massive gaps in his memory due to repression, he barely knows anything about his life before 16 (present day he's 19).

Knuckles and Shadow are close, knuckles being the first to find him. Since Shadow can't buy anything under his own name, Knuckles got him a hover motorcycle for deliveries.

When Shadow tells Knuckles about his deal with Hoax for the first time, Knuckles punches hoax so hard it turns him back into Sonic, making Knuckles the first to learn his identity outside of Amy, who helped him create the form.

Amy likes to follow Sonic on dates sometimes and mildly inconveniences them with her magic. Sonic usually finds this game more fun than the actual date

Maria and Tikal haunt the pizza place. They can eat pizza . They crave it. They also feed it to Chaos. Maria tries to talk to Shadow but he doesn't know who she is.

When making the blood deal with Shadow, Hoax had no idea Shadow was the guy under the vulture mask. He would have thought twice if he knew. Shadow also cut Hoaxs right hand during their first fight, its a permanent scar. Shadow says hed do it again.

Hoax slowly realizes how deeply unwell this little freak is. 

Right when they kinda start getting comfortable with each other, a weird artifact that knuckles finds allows them a glimpse into the future. Sonic and Shadow are married. Hoax has to play it cool while Shadow starts loading his guns. This haunts the rest of their relationship development.

Amy delves into dark magic when she starts getting desperate about how slow she's progressing with her magic skill. It has adverse effects on beings created by her magic once she goes too far.

Mephiles lives in a comically evil wizard tower in the Sol castle. Mephiles can also shapeshift after drinking peoples blood, he can only shift as long as the blood is in his system.

Silver really wants Shadow to explode for trying to kill vampires, his friends and family.

(Things are still in rework state and also im forgetting things rn so more will probably be added)

[s-soulwriter]

Fantasy place (which you can use for your story)

Some fantasy places you can use for your next story .

Luminoth Hollow: A subterranean cavern filled with glowing crystals that emit soothing light. Luminoth Hollow is home to a race of peaceful, bioluminescent creatures who communicate through light patterns.

Zephyria: A floating archipelago of lush, skyborne islands, tethered together by colossal, living vines. Each island has its unique ecosystem and is inhabited by winged creatures who navigate the skies between them.

Aurora Glade: A tranquil meadow hidden within a giant, sentient tree. The glade is bathed in eternal twilight and inhabited by gentle, dreamweaving creatures who protect the dreams of those who visit.

The Obsidian Spire: A towering, black monolith that pierces the heavens. It's said that at its peak lies a portal to another realm, guarded by enigmatic sentinels who test the worth of those who seek passage.

Eldertide Marsh: A mystical swamp where ancient, sentient trees rise from the waters, and luminous fireflies lead travelers along phosphorescent pathways. It's rumored that the marsh holds the key to unlocking forgotten knowledge.

Clockwork Citadel: A colossal, mechanical fortress powered by intricate gears and steam. Clockwork automatons serve as both guardians and caretakers, and the citadel houses a library containing the accumulated wisdom of the ages.

Whispering Sands: A desert where the dunes are constantly shifting, and the winds carry the whispers of long-forgotten spirits. At its heart stands an oasis of liquid crystal that reveals glimpses of the past and future.

The Eternal Library: A massive, floating island covered in towering bookshelves. Each book contains the life story of an individual, and the library is said to grant the power to rewrite destinies.

Gloomwood Thicket: A dense, enchanted forest perpetually cloaked in twilight. Within its shadows reside shadowy creatures that can manipulate time, making it a place of both wonder and danger.

Abyssal Abyss: An underwater realm where bioluminescent flora and fauna thrive. Merfolk and other aquatic beings have built stunning, glowing cities within deep-sea caves.

Sylvan Skylines: An archipelago of floating islands inhabited by tree-dwelling, bird-like beings who harness the power of wind and weather. They craft intricate bridges and pathways connecting their aerial homes.

Whispering Peaks: Towering, mist-shrouded mountains said to hold the knowledge of the cosmos. Monasteries and meditation chambers dot the landscape, where monks seek enlightenment through quiet contemplation.

The Emberforge: An underground forge where skilled blacksmiths craft legendary weapons and armor imbued with the essence of fallen stars. The air is filled with the sound of hammers on metal and the crackling of celestial flames.

The Crystal Canyons: A network of canyons adorned with enormous, glowing crystals that resonate with hauntingly beautiful melodies when touched. Nomadic crystal herders roam the canyons, taming the living crystals.

The Dreamer's Archipelago: A series of islands, each representing different dreams and nightmares. Travelers can enter these dreamscapes and interact with the inhabitants, who are manifestations of dreams themselves.

[the-bus-called-graveyard-8]

Madagascar in Nickelodeon Magazine (part 1 of 4)

Madagascar was first featured in Nick Mag in the June/July 2005 issue, shortly after the film's May 2005 release.

Here we have the cover of the magazine, featuring Alex, Gloria and the Penguins

Next we have an ad for the tie-in video game

Finally we have a two-page spread featuring an interview with the main cast. Full transcription of the interview under the read more!

We talked to the stars of the new animated movie Madagascar. The film is about some animals from New York City's Central Park Zoo who suddenly find themselves stranded in the wilds of Madagascar, an island of the coast of southern Africa.

On-screen best friends and real-life pals Ben Stiller (near right, who plays Alex the lion) and Chris Rock (far right, who plays Marty the zebra) talked to us about their characters.

Nickelodeon Magazine: What is your character like? Ben Stiller: Alex is sort of the king of the Central Park Zoo. He enjoys being the main attraction and would be happy for things to always stay the same. Chris Rock: Marty is the adventurer of the group. He's not content in the zoo. He's the guy who asks, "What more could we be doing with ourselves?"

Nick Mag: Are you at all like your character? Ben: A little bit. [Like Alex,] I'm a New Yorker and a creature of habit. I like the comforts of home. And Alex is sort of an actor. He's a performer who has the self-delusional, self-involved thing that I think every actor can identify with. Chris: [Like Marty,] I always wanted to get away from where I grew up.

Nick Mag: What was the hardest thing about recording your lines? Ben: The time frame was crazy. It was like, "Wow, we're still doing this? They were serious about [this taking] four years?" At one point, I felt like all I ever said was "Marty!" Literally, for years. Chris: "Am I white with black stripes or black with white stripes?" How many times did I say that?

Nick Mag: Do you ever feel caged up, like you're in a zoo? Ben: Sometimes, when you're not happy on a movie set, it can be like that. Chris: Yeah, movies can be like that. Ben: I remember doing a movie once where, on the first day of rehearsals, I realized, "Uh-oh, this is not good." And I had four months to go.

Nick Mag: Did you do research for your role? Ben: I ate a bowl of Frosted Flakes because of Tony the Tiger, and then I realized I was playing a lion and that I was really off.

Nick Mag: Favorite movie snack? Ben: I'm a big M&M's guy—peanut or plain. Chris: Popcorn and Raisinettes, but I wish they served banana cream pie!

We got the skinny on Jada Pinkett Smith's big character, Gloria the hippo.

Nickelodeon Magazine: What is your character like? Jada Pinkett Smith: She's like the mother of the gang. She wants to make sure that everybody is happy and taken care of.

Nick Mag: Are you anything like her? Jada: I have a real loyalty to my friends, just like Gloria does.

Nick Mag: Was the recording process hard? Jada: It was pretty challenging. You have to be really patient. You don't have the other actors there, there are no props, and you don't know what the scene looks like. It's just you and some paper with words on it.

Nick Mag: Do you have any pets? Jada: I have three dogs and a cat. And I'm about to get three more dogs!

Nick Mag: Do you like the outdoors? Jada: You have to be very cautious, but I love the wild. My intention for the next couple of years is to do more camping and go whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon.

Nick Mag: Are you freaked out by nature at all? Jada: Not at all. Insects are the only things that kind of freak me out, but I can get used to them.

Nick Mag: Favorite movie snack? Jada: I usually do a mixture of popcorn and Goobers. Now I want some!

David Schwimmer talked to us about his character, Melman the giraffe.

Nickelodeon Magazine: What is your character like? David Schwimmer: Melman is a hypochondriac. he's afraid of almost everything and needs a lot of attention.

Nick Mag: Are you at all like him? David: I'm the opposite. My character couldn't be happier having bars around him so that nothing can get in. Personally, I'd go crazy. I'm low maintenance. I like not having a routine. Also [unlike Melman], I have to be forced to go to the doctor.

Nick Mag: What other kind of animal would you like to play? David: A black panther. There's something powerful and mysterious about it. It's got those green eyes and the sleek black coat. It would also be fun to be a water creature, like a dolphin. [Zelda the roving reporter: You're already a good Schwimmer.]

Nick Mag: Do you ever feel like you're in a zoo? David: I waited tables for seven years at restaurants where I felt like that. I also had a crummy job working in a tiny room in the business center of a hotel in Chicago in a suit and tie from six AM to six PM.

Nick Mag: Do you have any pets? David: I don't. I travel too much. But I had many animals growing up—dogs, a lizard, turtles. I love turtles. Their only protection is hiding—I love that about turtles.

Nick Mag: Favorite movie snack? David: There's no substitute for good, fresh popcorn.

[emperornorton47]

Black Star Canyon Road

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Lena Horne (Cabin in the Sky, Stormy Weather)— Incredibly talented biracial actress, singer, dancer, and activist (she did so much work towards integrating audiences). Because of the racism of the era, she rarely got to be the lead actress but filmmakers loved her so much that they would often create stand alone segments within a film to highlight her beautiful singing, knowing that these segments would ultimately be cut from the film by censors in areas that forbid films with Black performers. Also, she's just so wonderful in Cabin in the Sky as a gold-digger villain who is not the least bit subtle about her intentions. I would highly recommend checking out her work.

Ann Blyth (Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid, Red Canyon)—no propaganda submitted

This is round 2 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Lena Horne:

Black American powerhouse singer and actor who faced all the usual bullshit that any BIPOC faced in vintage Hollywood and achieved legendary status anyway. Also a Civil Rights movement icon.

She was a gem

She was so beautiful and those dimples are amazing! Truly depressing how badly Hollywood treated her because she was black. I would love to have seen what she really could have been if they didn’t cast her in so many yikes roles. She’s got gorgeous eyes and that body! Her joyful smile makes happiness sexy!

Civil rights actress, singer, dancer, actress, she's got the whole package

Lena Horne was a wonderful singer and actress who largely starred in black cast musicals. While she had a lot of main stream success, she ultimately lost the lead role in showboat (a role she had played on the stage) to a white actress due to hollywood's prejudices. She was also blacklisted during the HUAC hearings, but she still managed to be hot be hot as fuck and have a career spanning decades, working with more well-known stars like Judy Garland in musicals, and working on stage and releasing albums when her hollywood career began to suffer.

Miss Horne became famous during a period of time when Hollywood had very few meaningful roles for people of color. Although she is more so known as a performer, she starred in two successful all black productions (Cabin in the Sky & Stormy Weather). If that wasn't enough, she also guest starred on the Muppets (Season 1, Episode 11)

Ann Blyth:

[theworldbrewery]

1d8 places to camp in the desert

In a shady palm oasis, surrounded by rising sand dunes. The oasis was once inhabited, based on the crumbling signs of clay buildings ringing the water, but there’s no one here anymore. At the bottom of the oasis’s clear waters, nestled in the sand, you can see a large, pitch-black egg.

Between the high walls of a slot canyon, with shafts of light shining down to the sand on which you’ve laid your camp. The narrow passage is claustrophobia-inducing, and safety is far from guaranteed; if it should rain, creatures will have little warning before a flash flood strikes.

At the foot of a sandstone arch, worn very smooth. Scratched into the stone is a phrase in Dwarvish: “Demon’s Bridge.” No fiendish aura accompanies the arch, and yet the prospect of passing directly under the arch is a chilling one. The chaparral landscape all around supplies plenty of dry brush for a campfire.

On a flat range, having followed the sign of a distant fire to the site of a group of nomads making camp. The nomads' music resonates deep over the sound of their animals. The dark sky is a perfect dome, illuminated by the brilliant glow of a million million stars; how small mortals are, by comparison!

Surrounded by saguaro cacti. All through the night, the cacti produce a faint groaning sound. In the morning it’s clear the cacti have migrated a few thousand feet west, though they never appear to be moving. If communicated to, the cacti convey that they are heading to a succulent symposium, and that neither beast nor fungus may attend.

Amid a maze of white sand dunes. In the dark of night the dunes appear blue, like ocean waves frozen in time. Sticking up out of the next dune is the buried prow of a ship, its cast bronze figurehead made to look like a spray of grasping tentacles.

In a limestone cave, sheltered from a sandstorm blowing outside. Evocative paintings and deep-worn grooves have been left upon the cave walls. The images are difficult to interpret, but they seem to involve some type of titanic, many-limbed creature emerging from the dunes.

Beside the road, within view of a fortified town. The town’s lights twinkle like stars in the distance, but its gates are shut for the night. Jackals cackle in the brush nearby, but they seem more interested in scavenging off whatever prey carcasses a traveling hunter might leave behind. Out in the open like this, however, a camp is a prime target for a robber on the road.

[seniorpollinationtechnician]

The ORION team stumbled across a previously undiscovered planet during a routine atmospheric probe. Their spacecraft, equipped with advanced long-range scanners, detected unusual energy signatures emanating from an uncharted region of space. Initially, the readings were faint and erratic but as they drew closer, the signals grew stronger and more distinct, piquing their curiosity. That next morning, before the debriefing, each team member meticulously prepared for the mission. Jorlan started by running diagnostics on all their devices. While waiting, he delved into the latest data collected from their recent missions and analyzed the raw data streams in order to compile the data into a series of comprehensive reports, complete with visualizations to make the information more accessible for the team. Zerath began his day long before anyone else with a demanding training session. Afterward, he reviewed the latest intelligence reports with Zyri. He considered various scenarios they might encounter, from ambushes to environmental hazards, and outlined responses for each. Meanwhile, Zyri tried to decipher the energy signatures to no avail. Velana spent the morning in the laboratory where she conducted final analyses on biological samples collected from their latest expedition. Each observation was carefully documented, contributing to the growing body of knowledge about the new life forms they encountered. Despite extensive records, there was nothing that could prepare them for what was to come. As each team member entered the briefing room, they were greeted by a large, central table surrounded by ergonomic chairs, each equipped with individual data screens. The room’s walls were adorned with interactive displays showing real-time data feeds, star charts, and mission objectives. The central holographic projector hummed to life, displaying a rotating 3D model of the planet they were orbiting. The planet's surface appeared rugged, a vast expanse of reddish-brown terrain marked by deep canyons. Dust storms swept across the surface, creating an 3D render of swirling particles. Velana stood at the center of the room, her eyes scanning the holographic display that projected a detailed topographical map. "Preliminary scans indicate a complex network of underground caverns," she began, "These caverns may harbor unique alien life forms adapted to the harsh, subterranean environment." Zyri tapped her datapad and outlined a few zones of interest. "There are also unusual energy signatures emanating from deep within the caverns. If we can decipher their source, it may open new avenues." Zerath stepped forward, his expression serious. "While the scientific prospects are promising, we must proceed with extreme caution. The unstable terrain and frequent dust storms pose significant risks. We don't know what kind of creatures might be lurking in those dark caverns and any misstep could be deadly. Stay alert and stick to the safety protocols." Jorlan stepped up and tried to surpress a smile as he tapped his handheld device to project schematics on the center console. "Before we go, I’ve got a new piece of equipment that I’ve been dying to field-test: a helmet. It isn’t just about protection; it’s equipped with an integrated augmented reality display, advanced environmental sensors, and a real-time communication system.” He carefully pulled out a few high-tech masks, placing them on the table with a sense of pride. The masks were impressive, designed with a sleek, modern aesthetic that spoke of advanced engineering. The main body of each mask was made of a lightweight, durable material with a matte black finish, giving them a streamlined, almost futuristic look. Across the front, a curved transparent panel covered the mouth area, allowing for clear visibility of the wearer's facial expressions while still providing protection. As the debriefing came to an end, the ORION team geared up and prepared to descend to the planet's surface.

[followcb]

Eternal Torch / Forever Burning

invincible fire

you are stars and stardust

elemental, universal

spiraling through spiritual

existence and eternity

evolutionary, revolutionary

lifeform from life-force

rivers flowing, rivers carving

extraterrestrial canyons

galaxies of black hole oceans

dynamic energy in perpetual motion

time is always time is now

ever present in the present

eternal torch forever burning

yearning to know infinite love

serenity, grace, completeness

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

©️ @followcb ☆ August 31, 2024

[amazingmsme]

Restless ‘Til We Reach Home

Anywhere I’d Follow You (ch. 1)

AN: happy underworld saga release day! Literally the day we’ve all been waiting for! This fic is my pride & joy rn so I hope y’all like it! Be sure to buckle in cause you’re in for one hell of a ride! The underworld saga is literally everything I could’ve imagined & more, & it makes this chapter hit so much harder. & I wouldn’t have it any other way 💗

Edit: omg I can’t believe I forgot to add the ghost!polites playlist that I so lovingly created! My sincere apologies to anyone who read it without the intended listening experience

Ch. 2 Ch. 3 Ch. 3.5 Ch. 4

Polites woke alone in the darkness. Or at least, he thought he was alone, until he felt a body shift next to him. The sky above was an inky black, completely devoid of stars. It didn't feel right.

He jolted upright, the ground underneath him rocking with his movement. No, it wasn't the ground, it was wood. He was on a small boat, and the bodies around him were his fellow soldiers. Most still remained unconscious.

"Odysseus!" he called out, but received no answer. "Eurylochus!" His voice echoed down the approaching canyon, bouncing back until it met his ears.

"Shhhh," a husky voice sounded from above. Polites startled and looked up, seeing a cloaked man standing at the back of the boat. His face was concealed by the hood pulled over its head, the only discernible feature being two bony hands peeking out from his sleeves. They clutched onto an oar, thrusting the boat further on its journey.

Polites crawled to the edge of the boat and leaned out, and he was greeted by perhaps the most beautiful sight. They were floating on a glowing river, the water a brilliant blue green. It was as he was staring into the ethereal water that he realized why the sky had no stars: they'd all fallen in the river.

The awestruck smile fell flat when he took a good look at his surroundings.

Everywhere he looked was gray and rocky and completely devoid of life. He heard people moaning in the distance and could see them trudging along in mindless huddles. Small fights broke out amongst them, and Polites could see fires burn in the distance.

He had to be dreaming, he was sure of it! He pinched his arm as hard as he could until he yelped from the pain. When he didn't wake up, he reached his hands into the water, splashing his face repeatedly.

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, wake up!" he yelled each time the cool water hit his skin. His vision blurred as the water dripped down his face and his eyes filled with tears. His shoulders shook as he sobbed, leaning over the edge of the boat. He could feel when they hit the shore, but he didn't budge, even as everyone else filed out.

The ripples around the boat began to calm, and soon enough the surface of the water was as smooth as glass. His eyes met his reflection and he jerked back, rocking the boat slightly. Hesitantly, he leaned back over the glowing water to get a closer look. Ripples sent minor shockwaves through his reflection, slowing until it showed a clear picture.

A choked gasp escaped his throat as he clamped a hand over his mouth. He looked up at the ferryman, who nodded solemnly. The tears he'd been holding back finally rolled down past his cheeks.

His head hung low as he cried, and he could feel each tear drip from his nose or chin. When he opened his eyes again, he saw tiny dots of red on his toga. Hesitantly, he reached up to wipe the tears from his face. When he pulled away, his hands were stained red.

He thrusted his hands in the water, scrubbing furiously to rid them of the blood. The stream before him turned a pale pink before the current carried it away.

Polites knew exactly where he was.

At first he tried to lay low, but he had always been outgoing and friendly, even to those who weren't so friendly back. But it quickly became clear that down here, no one wanted to talk to him. Or so it would seem.

Polites got into the habit of exploring the underworld every day. There was nothing to do but wander aimlessly or work, and Polites much preferred the former. It was while on one of these walks that he spotted a young woman kneeling by the riverbank. At first he thought nothing of it, but the closer he got, he could hear her quiet sobs and sniffles.

He approached cautiously, waving when he felt he was close enough to warrant a greeting. "Well hello there!" he said in a chipper voice, offering a shy grin. She looked up at the stranger before her, yelping and falling back onto her hands. He was quick to put her at ease.

"Hey hey, it's okay! I'm nice, I was just crushed by a cyclops," he explained his appearance, aiming for humor. The girl's lips twitched in a fleeting smile.

"Oh! Um, I'm sorry..." she apologized, and he waved a hand dismissively.

"Why? You have something to do with it?" he joked, smiling when she giggled, shaking her head.

"Noho..."

"Then you have nothing to apologize for!" He turned to her, holding his hand out to her. "I'm Polites." She studied him, chewing her lip before she accepted it.

"Eurydice."

"Ah, what a lovely name for a lovely woman," he complimented. Her smile was tainted with sadness. "I'm sorry, are you alright?" he asked gently. She shook her head, plastering on a fake smile.

"I'm in Hades, why wouldn't I be fine?" she tried to joke like he'd done moments before, but it fell flat.

"You know, if you need to get something off your chest, I'm all ears. I was practically the sole shoulder to cry on for 600 men." His tone made it impossible for Eurydice to discern whether or not he was being serious. Finally, she decided, "Yeah right."

"No really! Well, obviously not all of them took me up on my offer, but I'm a great listener," he offered with a warm, genuine smile. She let out an amused huff.

"I know it sounds stupid, but... I really thought I was gonna bust outta here." Polites placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I don't think it's stupid at all. I mean, we all want out-"

"No, you don't get it!" she spun around to face him, tears in her eyes. Polites held his hands up in surrender on reflex, his entire body tense. Eurydice heaved a sigh, burying her face in her hands. "I was so close..."

Polites was almost afraid to ask, but, "C-close to what?"

Eurydice looked up with wide, tearful eyes as she stared longingly out into the distance. She spoke breathily as her mind began to wander, "Freedom."

Polites couldn't believe what he was hearing. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Wait, you mean you were trying to leave? How?" he asked desperately, the wounds on his face and body starting to bleed.

"I wasn't on my own. Orpheus came for me."

"Orpheus?" he questioned.

"I died on our wedding day..." she answered, trailing off as she stared at the ground. "And he risked everything to come save me. We could've made it out and we'd both be happy. Start a family..." she took a grounding breath, drying her eyes. "I never did get to hear how his song turned out."

Polites perked up slightly. "Oh, he's a musician?" he asked. She smiled as she remembered her love.

"Mhm. Said he was gonna write a song to fix what's wrong with the world," she said, amusement clear in her tone. "Guess he hasn't finished it yet."

"Well, sounds like he's got his work cut out for him. I can't imagine it'll be easy for him, without you," he said softly. A sob caught in Eurydice's throat as she looked away, closing her eyes softly.

"Don't. Please."

"Sorry," he immediately apologized, feeling rather guilty.

"It's fine. It's not like it's your fault or anything."

Polites looked at her, mouth slightly agape as he tried to decipher whether she was teasing him as he'd done earlier, or if it was sheer coincidence. The subtle twitch of her lips was all he needed to know. He barked out a laugh, bumping their shoulders together.

"Well would you look at that! Looks like someone's getting their sense of humor back!" he praised, making her roll her eyes.

"Never left," she lied. Her gaze locked on the Palace of Hades, and Polites followed her line of sight.

"He had something to do with it, didn't he?"

Eurydice took a shaky breath and nodded. "Yeah."

"They usually do. Even when you don't think so... They do."

~~~

Life in Hades is not what Polites expected.

For one, he didn't know where the crumbling rubble ended and the new scaffolding began. Every day it seemed, the underworld would change ever so slightly. Buildings and complex machinery were all being built before his very eyes. It was nothing like Polites had ever seen.

Slowly, copper and iron replaced stonework as buildings all but erected themselves, and horseless chariots carted material to various work sites. The grand palace in the center of the underworld has all but doubled in size in the short time he's been here. And jutting out from the southern east corner, stood an imposing factory spitting black smoke. It felt... wrong. Almost as if Hades had tried to tuck it away out of sight, only for his greed to force it to grow until the rocks could conceal it no longer.

He said he was doing this for them; that he was creating a greater home for their eternity. So then, why was he turning the air thick with smog? Why must the tortured souls carry the burden of his progress?

Nothing was right anymore. Then again, nothing had been right for a long time.

~~~

Polites never thought he'd grow used to the underworld, but with Eurydice, he found a flow. They steered clear of the mindless work convoys, with their bowl shaped helmets and tools in hand. They marched along packed gravel roads in uniform lines, singing in a low, menacing chant.

They didn't stray far from the riverbanks, and when they did, chose to walk through rolling fields of nothing but dead grass and dirt. They found solace in the few crumbling ruins that have yet to undergo renovations.

Shriveled vines choked out the grand archway the pair sat under, but not even the resilience of nature could last under a God's iron grip. Polites closed his eyes, trying to picture the lush foliage that swallowed the rubble of a once ancient building. When he opened his eyes, he was met with the disappointing reality of thick, dry vines sprawling over crumbling stone as if caught in a wooden spiderweb.

"You ever made a flower crown?"

The question came out of nowhere, catching him off guard. If asked, he would deny the way he had jumped at the sound of her voice.

"Um, n-no, I can't say I have."

When Polites didn't elaborate, Eurydice continued. "My sisters and I used to pick flowers in the meadow behind our house and we'd spend hours weaving crowns and necklaces while we talked." She smiled at the fond, distant memory. Polites smiled back.

"That sounds really lovely," he assured. He saw the longing in her eyes, could feel the ache in her heart. If only he could ease that pain...

"It was. I think you'd really like it. Heh, too bad I can't teach you."

"Yeah, that's too bad," he lamented in agreement before an idea struck him. "Or, you know... we could still try," he suggested, holding up a handful of dry vines and twigs. Eurydice's face lit up with a smile as bright as the sun.

"Really? You mean that?"

"Well, I mean, I'm sure yours turned out much better than whatever we can make down here, but-" his rambling was cut off when Eurydice slammed into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck in a grateful hug.

~~~

Polites had lost track of how long he'd been there, though he was grateful for Eurydice's company. It was the single source of comfort since he'd awoken in the underworld, the one reminder that there was once a time when things were good.

They would walk along the riverbanks, sharing stories from their lives. Eurydice once said that Orpheus would've liked Polites, and he swelled with pride. The feeling would've been mutual, he assured.

He can't help but to picture his friends meeting this lively young spirit, ripped from the Earth too soon. He thinks they'd like her too.

There were no days and nights here; everything ran together in one big screaming haze. At times, Polites thought they were the only souls down here who weren't screaming...

He missed being alive. He missed his friends, missed the way the sun warmed his skin, the way the sea would taste on the air, the way the wind would whip through his hair. He missed food, and feeling hungry, or tired. He missed the way he could feel his heart race in his chest when Odysseus would put himself in harms way, only to come out unscathed.

He always came out unscathed, no matter the challenge.

He was walking alone, trying to clear his head when he heard his name being called. "Polites! Polites!"

He turned to see Eurydice running towards him, feet pounding against the rocky shore. He met her halfway, picking up on her sense of urgency.

"Eurydice! Is everything alri-"

"There's a ship," she rushed out breathlessly. His eyes went wide and he scanned the horizon.

"Of course, the ferryman brings people-"

"No, I mean a real, living ship!" she emphasized with a playful punch to his shoulder. He smirked down at her, bumping their hips together.

"You know ships aren't really alive," he teased, tilting his head back to laugh at his own joke. She rolled her eyes, snatching the bandana from around his head. His hands flew up a second too late as he turned to face her. "Hey!"

She giggled, waving the bandana out of reach. "I'm being serious!" she insisted through a smile. He snorted, snatching the cloth from her grasp playfully.

"Yeah, that's why you stole my bandana," he taunted, shooting her a grin.

"You weren't listening! Just look!" she pointed in the distance. Polites looked up to humor her and gasped when he saw a large ship creeping up the river. It was much closer to them now. He took a step away from the bank.

Eurydice smirked, looking at him from the corner of her eye. "You believe me now?" He nodded wordlessly, mouth gaping open in shock.

They stood like that, just frozen in awe watching it get closer. The figures aboard the ship were now visible, and Polites shaded his eyes, squinting up at the deck. Did he really see what he thought he saw? Was that really...

"Steady as she goes men!" A figure paced around the deck, barking orders and securing the ship. Polites would know that voice anywhere.

"Odysseus?" he asked, barely aware he said the name aloud. Eurydice gasped and snapped her head to look at him.

"Odysseus? Like, like your Odysseus?" she asked frantically. Polites looked back at the ship for some other kind of proof, spotting Eurylochus at the wheel.

"Yes, I'm sure. Look, there's Eurylochus," he said, pointing at his friend.

She turned to him with an expression on her face that he hadn't seen since the day they first met.

"You have to go."

His head snapped down to look at her, "What?"

"They came here looking for you! I mean, why else would they come all the way here?" she asked, clutching to the fabric of his toga. "You're important to them, Polites. You're the missing piece, they need you," she pleaded.

The ship was right in front of them now, Odysseus clutching the rail of the ship with a horrified look. When his eyes landed on Polites, he froze, all the color quickly draining from his face. He turned away abruptly.

"I-I don't know Eurydice. That doesn't really seem like- I'm sure there's gotta be another reason!" He wasn't sure why or how they were here, but he had a hard time believing it would be for him. It would hurt too much, getting his hopes up like that.

"A reason to go through the underworld?" she asked incredulously. Her expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "They've missed you."

A sob caught in his throat. "Yeah, I miss them too."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

He turned to her, tears in his eyes. "B-but what about you? You can't come, and I can't leave you!" he said, gripping onto her hands for dear life. "Y-you'd be alone again, I can't do that!"

"Shh, hey, hey, look at me," she said in a soothing voice, but Polites could see the tears shining in her eyes. "Don't think of it like that, okay? You're doing this for me." She squeezed his hands so hard, her knuckles were turning white. Funny, how even their spirits react like they still have blood.

He closed his eyes and shook his head, but a soft hand cupping his face brought him back to reality. "Hades only made sure I couldn't get out, just to spite our love. He won't notice if you escape, I promise," she reassured. He placed a hand atop hers, still shaking his head.

"You can't promise that-"

"Maybe, but I can try. Please Polites," she was practically begging at this point. "One of us has to see the sun again."

A sob shuttered through his body and he surged forward, grabbing her in a tight hug- their last hug. Maybe the last hug he'd ever be able to actually feel.

"I don't want to leave you," he muttered into her hair. He could feel her tears begin to fall down his arm like raindrops.

"Me either, but you have to. It's your only chance." She held on for a few more seconds before allowing herself to slip away.

"Goodbye Eurydice. Thank you for... everything."

"Farewell Polites. I know you'll keep them safe."

He nodded to her before turning towards the ship, marching along the shore. He got about halfway before her sweet voice called out to him.

"Polites, wait!" He stopped in his tracks, turning just in time to catch her in his arms. Her hands carded through thick black hair as she squeezed him tight. She kissed his cheek, pulling away to whisper in his ear, "If you ever come across Orpheus, please tell him I'm okay."

"Of course. You have my word," he promised.

When Eurydice pulled away, a small amount of blood was smeared on her lips and cheek. Polites decided not to dwell on what that meant.

~~~

Polites jogged along the riverbank until he caught back up with the ship. He waded into the water, trying to figure out how to get back on the ship. He saw a rope nearby and grabbed ahold, climbing up. The rope swayed with the ship as if it were weightless, making it more difficult to ascend.

The rope slapped against the side of the ship, sending Polites hurling through the hull of the ship and into the lower deck. His body tumbled and hit a few crates, causing them to come crashing down.

"Oh no no no!" he muttered, trying to restack them, only for his hands to phase right through.

On the deck above, Odysseus heard the commotion and ordered one of his men to investigate as he continued to warn the others to stay on guard.

He trudged below deck, not expecting what awaited him.

Polites yelped when he heard a clatter behind him, turning to see one of the soldiers standing in the doorway, his sword laying on the ground before him. He opened his mouth to speak, but the man turned on his heels and scrambled up the stairs.

"Captain!"

Odysseus immediately ran to the soldier's aid, hand on the hilt of his sword. "What was it?"

"I-it was Polites, Sir..."

The captain bristled at the name, turning his back on the man.

"Impossible."

"But I'm telling you, he was right there!"

Odysseus sighed, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Listen to me, brother. This place is not to be trusted, okay? Nothing that you see or hear is to be trusted. Those were Circe's words. Got that?"

The man nodded, though he was clearly still shaken up. Odysseus sighed once more.

"Come on. Why don't you show me where he was," he said, deciding it might be a good idea to help put both their minds at ease.

Odysseus crept down the stairs carefully, eyes scanning the shadows for any intruders.

"Hello? Anyone down here?" He was met with silence. He didn't know how tense he was until his fears were put at ease. It was empty.

"The boxes must've fallen on their own, it's been a little bumpy. Let's go," he ordered, picking up the discarded sword and holding it out for the man to take.

Meanwhile, Polites was crouched behind a barrel on the upper deck, watching what few soldiers remained. They all looked so different, but none more than Odysseus. He watched as his friend marched up the stairs to resume his task of guiding the ship.

But... his directions didn't sound right. The way Odysseus was leading them would pass by two guardians, and more would surely die. Odysseus didn't know his way around here like he did, to no fault of his own. But Polites couldn't let that happen.

He made sure no one was looking when he crept from his hiding spot.

He stood behind Eurylochus, hesitant to speak. But the fork in the river was approaching.

"Actually, you're gonna wanna take a right," he said from behind. Eurylochus jumped at the unexpected voice, turning to face him. His face morphed in terror as he saw the man before him.

"CAPTA-mmm!"

"Shhh!" Polites shushed, slapping a hand over his friend's mouth. Eurylochus tried to shove him away, only for his hands to phase through his attacker's arm. His eyes were wide with fear as he fumbled for his sword, still trying to steer the ship through the narrow waterway. "It's me! You have to trust me!"

"I don't think so."

Polites turned to see the tip of a sword pointed at him, the eyes of Odysseus staring him down with a vengeance.

"Captain, I-"

"SHUT UP!" he yelled, taking a step closer. Polites let go of Eurylochus, shying away behind him. "Now who are you really?" he all but growled.

Polites furrowed his brow in confusion. "Do... do you not recognize me?" he asked weakly. Odysseus let out a low, sadistic chuckle, and it was hard to believe this was his beloved friend.

"Ohoho I know who you want us to think it is! But we've been through enough, I know a trap when I see one. So I'm only asking one more time." He pressed the blade to where his throat would be. "Who. Are. You."

"Odysseus, it really is me! W-why don't you believe me?" he asked helplessly, realizing his sword wasn't the only one trained towards him.

"Why should I?"

"B-because I'm trying to help you!" he insisted. There was a long stretch of silence before Odysseus answered.

"I don't believe you."

Odysseus reared back, preparing to strike. Polites panicked, he didn't know where else to go, where to hide. On instinct he clutched onto Eurylochus for protection.

He opened his eyes, and Eurylochus was gone. No, that wasn't right... he could still hear him. He sounded... scared.

"Captain... help me," his hand raised on its own towards Odysseus. No, that wasn't his hand...

The soldiers had cowered back when Polites disappeared; they were all clearly on edge.

"Eurylochus?" Odysseus asked carefully.

"He's here."

Polites had to speak up, he had to make them listen.

"Please, I'm just trying to help." He spoke with a double voice. "I know a better way. Please... you have to trust me. I'm- I'm not a god, or whatever you think I am," he pleaded. "I'm me."

Odysseus glared at him, lips curled in a sneer. A tense silence fell over them as the seconds ticked by.

"Fine." He stepped back and lowered his sword. "As you were." When no one moved, he repeated himself in a harsher tone. "As you were!" They immediately broke up and returned to their posts, keeping an eye on their new passenger.

"Are... you gonna stand there the whole time?" he asked carefully.

"Yup," Odysseus answered, popping the p. "Are you gonna hide the whole time?" he countered.

Polites took a breath to ground himself. By the Gods, it felt good to breathe again... But this wasn't his body. These weren't his lungs…

"That depends. Are you gonna pull your sword on me again?" he asked.

"Only if you try anything." That was as good an answer as any, he supposed. Polites sighed, stepping out of his friend's body.

Eurylochus gasped as he regained full control of his limbs. He lurched forward, using the steering wheel for support. He glared at the spectral intruder.

"What did you do to me?" he demanded. Polites held his hands up in surrender. "I-I don't know! I was scared, I panicked!"

Eurylochus glared down at him, getting in his personal space to get his point across. "Don't do it again." A gentle hand on his shoulder snapped him out of it.

"Eurylochus, why not get some rest? Feel free to use my quarters," Odysseus offered. Eurylochus nodded in thanks, but not once did he take his eyes off Polites.

Odysseus was steering now, his mind elsewhere as he thought of what the prophet Tiresias had foretold.

"There is a world where I help you get home, but that's not a world I know..."

"You're gonna want to hang left, there's some larger rocks.

"I see a man who gets to make it home alive, but it's no longer you."

"Captain?"

Odysseus didn't like who he was becoming, but each challenged left him more broken than the last, and the mosaic he was creating of himself was more of an abomination.

"Captain watch out!"

Odysseus shook himself out of it, cutting the wheel to avoid the boulders. Polites watched him carefully, waiting for his friend to thank him and smile like he used to.

That moment never came.

Polites crossed his arms and huffed, "You're welcome."

Odysseus clenched his jaw. The imposter's tone was light and teasing, and so much like the friend he knew. But the underworld was nothing but lies and deceit, danger lurking around every corner. He was sure the man before him was nothing more than a farce.

"Just stop pretending," he sighed in defeat.

"Come again?" Polites asked, cocking his head. Odysseus tensed at the disgusting cracking sound the movement made.

"Nothing. Just- no more talking until we're safe."

We. Polites smiled as he stood next to his friend, just like old times. It never occurred to him that he wasn't meant to be included in that statement.

"Okay Captain."

Polites remained by his side, offering directions whenever they're needed. He doesn't dare speak beyond that, knowing how testy his friend can be when he's trying to focus. Not to mention he seemed like he was in a bad mood to begin with.

He had no idea.

"Alright, it shouldn't be much farther. Just go straight through there," Polites guided, pointing towards a cave on the horizon. The smallest amount of sunlight shimmered through.

"Everyone! Full speed ahead!" Odysseus yelled across the ship, men scurrying about the deck.

Odysseus kept his eyes trained on their destination as he spoke. "Thank you... You can go now."

"Oh! Right, you're- you're busy. We can talk later," Polites said, backing away. "I should probably go apologize to Eurylochus." He turned to make his leave, but Odysseus stood guarding his path.

"Stay away from him," he threatened, face shrouded by long, matted hair and hidden behind a thick beard. His once warm gaze turned black as he trained his weapon at Polites for a second time.

If he were still alive, his heart would be pounding right out of his chest.

"Odysseus? You're scaring me," Polites said, looking him up and down.

"AND YOU'RE SCARING EVERYONE!" he screamed, surging forward. Polites is taller than him, even when he's not floating, but Odysseus's presence towers over him.

"Wha-what?" he breathed out, backing himself against the rail. Odysseus kept him trapped there for a few more seconds before turning away. Polites spared a glance and saw every pair of eyes resting solely on him, hushed whispers floating about as hands hovered over their own weapons. He looked back at his captain with wide, fearful eyes.

"I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to..."

Odysseus ignored him, not so much as a glance his way. And that hurt.

"Odysseus?"

"Don't call me that," he snarled, finally looking over his shoulder. Polites couldn't help but snicker.

"Don't call you by your name? Okay, Captain," he teased, hoping to catch a glimpse of that brilliant smile.

"Knock it off! You're not as funny as you think you are," Odysseus snapped, making him pout.

"Ouch. You know, my new friend Eurydice thought I was hilarious. She-"

"I don't care."

Polites felt his phantom heart sink at those words. Odysseus had never spoken to him like that before...

"Oh. O-okay. I'll just, um, I'll go."

"Good riddance."

Polites tried to stifle the hurt gasp he let out, biting his quivering lip. He just wanted to disappear. He didn't want to be here, but he didn't know where to go. After a moment, Odysseus chanced a glance over his shoulder and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Finally. Thought he'd never leave." Polites felt tears well in his eyes despite his confusion. He was still here, what did he mean? He reached a hand up to rub his tired face, only to freeze. He couldn't see himself. To test his theory, he raced down to the middle of the deck and stood there, but no one paid him any mind. He got his wish. They got their wish.

He disappeared.

Polites felt himself sink through the floorboards, but didn't care enough to stop it before he plopped down below deck. He landed flat on his back, not bothering to get up. What would even be the point?

Finally, he sat up before drifting into a standing position.

~~~

Eurylochus couldn't sleep. How the hell did Odysseus expect him to rest after all that? His mind was reeling, and in all honesty, he was completely and utterly confused.

Trust nothing in the underworld.

Circe's instructions. More importantly, Captain's instructions. Up until now, he thought that was to be believed. Everything down here was a wicked and cruel trick. And yet, this vision of Polites had seemed so real. More than that, it felt real. He had no idea what it did to him, but in the moments he was possessed, he knew what it was thinking: what it was feeling. And it was scared, hurt and confused: like a wild animal backed into a corner. But nowhere could he feel any kind of ill will towards any of them. And that scared Eurylochus just as much as it perplexed him.

He gave up on sleep and decided to go back to the upper deck. He navigated the narrow halls and froze in his tracks when he came upon the transparent image of his fallen friend.

"Eurylochus!" Polites startled, standing up a little straighter when he noticed him.

Said man recoiled as he was addressed, and watched him with a careful eye, his hand hovering over his weapon.

"Please don't," he said, cowering back towards the shadows. "I just want to apologize for earlier. I-I didn't mean to do... that."

He was met with nothing but silence.

"Eurylochus? Say something," he pleaded. He noticed the way Eurylochus stared at the ground instead of him.

"You're not really him, are you?" he asked skeptically. Pilotes felt his shoulders sag in defeat.

"You too?"

Eurylochus dared to meet his gaze. The expression he wore was that of skepticism and a hope long lost.

"I'm not convinced yet." As he walked past, he paused at Polites's side. "So convince me."

His words caused a smile to break out across his face as he turned to his friend. Eurylochus looked shocked before his expression melted into something softer.

"That's a start, I guess." He abruptly continued on his way, not wanting to linger with their friend's spirit. Polites was left alone in the dark, his thoughts serving as his only company.

He didn't emerge from the lower deck until he was sure they were well out of the underworld.

[outofgloom]

POWER (II)

“Kapura...”

He was lying down. He had not been lying down a moment ago. He had been standing in a cold, clammy chamber crowded with much larger beings. He had been trying to—

“Kapura!!"

He sat up and blinked. Blinked again. A black Pakari was bending over him, too close. The eyes were very...worried, yes. That was ‘worry’, wasn’t it?

“Are you okay?” the voice said again. “I was worried...”

Worried. He’d got it right.

 “…that I was on my own.” The Pakari was Hafu, of course. The Po-Matoran pulled him up to a standing position.

“What happened?” Kapura said, checking his body for damage.

“I’m not sure, but it seems like we've both had a hard landing.”

Kapura registered his surroundings. They were at the bottom of a shallow, rocky ravine. Behind them there was a wall of earth, but ahead the slope was gentler. Probably climbable.

“Where are we, and where are we not?”

“Oh, don’t start with that again,” Hafu said flatly.

“The chamber...I don’t remember.”

“There was a sound—an explosion I think. It might have been in another part of the tower. I saw the Great Smith react. He did something to the air and space—twisted it like before. Then I woke up with sand in my mask.”

Kapura shifted his feet.

“There is a great deal of sand.”

Hafu sighed. “Let’s get our bearings. Up there should be better.” He pointed up the rocky slope.

It was a short hike, although the incline was treacherous with loose gravel. As they emerged, they could see that the sun had passed the top of the sky.

A single sun. No stars.

“Are we back on...Mata Nui?” Hafu asked, more to himself than to Kapura. “The Turaga said it was destroyed.”

“The air is warm,” Kapura said, “like Po-Wahi.”

Ahead, there was an expanse of wind-carved canyons and stone shapes, spreading to the horizon, where they blurred into mirage.

“It does feel like home, I guess.”

“I wonder if Artakha sent us here to keep us safe. You said you heard a noise?”

“That’s right. Just before the Smith did…whatever he did. Something happened in that tower...”

Hafu squinted into the distance, looking for signs of life. A faint breeze stirred the air, but nothing else.

“Whatever it was,” Hafu continued, “I’m sure it’d be no problem for the Smith, and the others. They're all powerful beings, and that tower was impregnable. I examined the stonework myself. Stellar quality, as one might expect from the Great Beings, but—”

Hafu stopped. Kapura’s hand had settled on his shoulder, nudging him to turn. The Ta-Matoran was looking off to the left, following the lip of the ravine. Hafu saw that the shallow crevasse extended about half a kio into the distance before it ended abruptly against a low ridge of stone. That ridge piled into another, and another beyond that.

There was a black scar across the series of ridges, as if something had scorched the stone. Strewn here and there were gigantic blocks of dark granite—even at this distance, they could be seen. And even closer, Hafu realized, partly embedded in the earth, was another shape: A rampart and crumbling wall, still partly intact.

Pieces of the Great Beings' tower, blasted to fragments.

“By Mata Nui...” Hafu murmured. “Whatever the Great Smith did...it must have brought part of the tower with us. But such destruction—Wait!”

Kapura was already marching toward the ruins determinedly. The Ta-Matoran was always faster than he appeared. Hafu jogged after him, trying to catch up, but strangely found that he could not. He was not used to this kind of exercise, he supposed.

By the time Hafu reached the piece of the tower they had seen, Kapura was sitting atop a pile of gigantic stones. The Ta-Matoran waved as Hafu paused to catch his breath.

“Have you…have you found anything?” Hafu called out.

“No bodies,” Kapura replied.

“Well, that’s good news.”

“There is something.”

“Ah, what is it?”

“Under the stones here,” Kapura replied. “I can’t move them.” The Ta-Matoran slid carefully to the ground as Hafu approached, and pointed to a gap between the slabs he had been sitting on. Something could be seen glittering in the dark.

Hafu looked morosely up at the heavy blocks.

“If I had my tools, this would be a lot easier…”

The two Matoran worked together to shift the carved stones. They were wedged tight, but with the right application of force, first one and then the other toppled away. A cloud of dust rose and Hafu coughed as he scrambled over the remaining stones to see the prize, hoping it had not been crushed. Kapura was already there, of course.

It was a hammer. Gigantic, covered in strange runes. It still glowed faintly. It was the Hammer of Artakha.

Neither Matoran spoke. Hafu looked around, almost expecting the Great Smith to appear and scold them, but nothing happened.

“Should we...?” Hafu looked at Kapura, but the Ta-Matoran shrugged.

After a few moments, Hafu reached out slowly, reverently. He tapped the haft of the hammer with a finger. The runes on its surface flashed, and then the hammer flickered into a series of shapes: a bent, rotating tool, some form of chisel or wedge, a pickaxe, and other stranger forms. It happened all in an instant, and Hafu shrank back. Artakha’s tool reverted to a hammer, as before.

“What should we do?” Kapura asked. “We should return it, shouldn't we?”

Hafu hesitated. “I’m not…sure…” He reached out again and gripped the handle of the hammer firmly. It came away in his hand, and he almost toppled over with surprise, thinking that he had broken it. But then he realized that the entire tool had simply shrunk and become lighter to match his size.

“Incredible,” Hafu whispered, hefting the tool and feeling its balance. He looked at Kapura and smiled. “I could get used to this.”

Hafu’s head snapped back, and his entire body seized as a strong electric shock emitted from the hammer. His mask jarred loose, and he fell heavily to the ground.

The hammer clattered from his grasp and rolled away, flickering and buzzing until it struck a stone and stopped. Smoke rose from Hafu's body. He did not move.

A long quiet moment passed. Then, a shadow fell over the hammer, and another hand reached out and gripped the handle in a very precise way, raised it.

Two eyes looked at the tool thoughtfully out of a red Pakari. The tool had clearly been warded, except for those with...certain knowledge.

“I don’t know why the Great Being chose to sacrifice me along with the others, back in the tower,” he mused. “I have served him well, and it saddens me. Maybe he didn’t know I was there...but he knows everything...”

The red Pakari turned to look at the unmoving body of Hafu. There were burn-marks on his armor, but his heartlight was beating faintly.

“You were not supposed to survive either, just like me. That is clearly the Great Being’s will, though Artakha interfered...And so...”

The hammer went up, and shifted into a blunt form. It hung in the air for a moment.

The eyes behind the red Pakari glanced down, then sidelong, then up. They narrowed. Thoughtful.

Out in the distance, across the wind-carved plain, what before had seemed to be a sparkling mirage had faded as the sun fell behind clouds. Now it was clearer: Far away, the shape of a mighty fortress rose against the sky, flanked by strange spikes of stone. And beyond that, there was gleaming ocean.

“And so...”

One moment, there were two Matoran amidst the ruins: one standing, arm raised, one sprawled on the ground.

The next moment, there was only one.

* * *

Context: Like its predecessor, this story fragment is set within the unknown landscape of possible futures which branch from the end of the unfinished Bionicle serials; specifically, the serial The Powers That Be, which trails off at a moment when a group of characters (including Hafu and Kapura) are being targeted by a mysterious murderer (the Great Being Velika), to be either killed or recruited to his cause.

[yallthemwitches]

The Seat with the Clearest View: Part 1

Lily and the marauders were his constant, like two separate stars orbiting his universe. But year after year stars get older. Their orbits start to move closer. It is only a matter of time before they collide.

A two (maybe three) part of Jily through the years in Remus POV Very Remus/Lily friendship heavy. Rated T

Ao3 Link Here!

First Year

By midnight, he convinced Mme Pomfrey he was healthy enough to sleep in his own bed. The situation with the full moon at Hogwarts was taking some time to get used to, but overall he had no right to complain. Mme Pomfrey was cordial if not doting after his transformations, something he hadn’t expected, and he hadn’t been run out of the school by an angry mob yet so that was something of a win. 

He trudged through the portrait hole, looking down at the rips that were already soiling his robes, wondering how long he could wait before he contacted his mum for a replacement . A faint sound of a needle hitting plastic echoed through the hall, then a twang of folk guitar drifted from the common room. 

 He found the fireplace still blazing. On the ground in front of it was a girl he recognized in most of his classes. She was always easy to spot due to the bright auburn hair that fell down her back. She leaned over a ratty looking book, fringe clouding her eyes and tapping her finger on the table to the music. If she had noticed the peaky looking boy in the doorway, she was not giving any mind.

“Buffalo Springfield?” The girl’s head snapped up and her eyes zeroed in on him. He hadn’t really taken stock of them before, but now under their laser focus, he felt a bit stunned by the glittering green of her irises. 

“When did you get here?” She demanded, looking to either side as though expecting some sort of apparition to appear as easily as he did.

“Just got in actually—I er...was sick.” For a moment he feared that he was giving himself away, but her shoulders relaxed and her eyes lost a bit of their sharpness. 

“Oh weird—-uhm, yeah! It is Buffalo Springfield,” she motioned to the turntable in the corner of the room, “d’you know them? I thought only muggle—” 

“Mum’s a muggle,” Remus said flatly. “We have this album at home—she loves the whole Laurel Canyon music scene.”

Lily’s eyes widened and Remus couldn’t help but think that she looked like a child. It was a stark contrast from just moments ago when her demeanor felt almost matronly.

“I’m sorry, can I sit? Would it bother you? Don’t think I can sleep yet.” Remus nodded towards the couch and Lily shut her book in response. 

“No–not at all. Hey—do you know you have a rip in your robes– just there,” she pointed at the gash of fabric he had been taking stock of earlier. He hoped she didn’t notice the stain of crimson lining the threads.

“Eh, yeah—I’m a bit clumsy.” Lily blinked at him a few times but said nothing. 

“I’m Remus by the way. Remus Lupin.” He slumped onto the couch. Lily moved to the record player that was now skipping and flipped it over. 

“Lily Evans—-hey, it's really nice to meet a fellow muggleborn.” Her voice was light and full. He could tell she really meant it. 

“Er—half-blood, but same difference.” Lily giggled. 

“It doesn’t really matter to me.”

~~~

When James Potter and Sirius Black asked him to sit with them at lunch, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity. They met during Defense Against the Dark Arts. All three of them had been assigned together to practice the Knockback jinx, but very quickly in, Sirius proposed a sort of game to make things interesting. 

“Whoever can throw the other farthest wins,” Sirius explained.

“What do we win?” James retorted. Remus could tell he was trying to sound uninterested, but at the idea of a competition, James’ body all but sprung to attention. 

Sirius tapped his chin for a minute. “Hm, If you win…we have to trade you one of our chocolate frog cards.” Remus could tell the prize was just a formality, both boys were now buzzing with competitive spirit. 

“Ok–deal. Remus, you in?” The boys looked at him expectantly. He had never made a bet before, much less been involved with a group of boys to make such bets. 

“Yeah, definitely.” The two boys whooped in unison, making Professor Slothrop turn to size the group up. 

The boys went at it, relentlessly throwing each other back until their loud guffaws caused the professor to break up the activity entirely. 

“Not to brag,” Sirius started in at lunch, “but I think I won.”

“No way!” James screamed, shaking his spoon at Sirius. “I totally threw you farther than Vance’s desk, and besides I think Remus here got us both beat. He practically knocked me out the window on that last one.”

Remus felt blood rush to his cheeks. James wasn’t wrong. Breathless from laughter and the continual sensation of hitting the ground, he mustered up all he had left and sent James flying midair, hitting the classroom wall with a thunk. Once on the ground, James laughed so hard he rolled on the floor, causing most of the class to burst into a fit themselves. 

“Yeah, good point. Good one, Remus! After lunch we can go back up to the dorms and you can see what cards we got.” 

Remus felt his cheeks burning and realized he was smiling. He couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed so hard in his life or if he had ever done so before. He sat back and ate his lunch with gusto, wondering if this was what it felt like to actually be normal for once. 

On the other side of the great hall, he noticed the girl from the other night enter alongside a boy in Slytherin he didn’t recognize. They were walking closely, Lily speaking in fast, animated gestures while the boy looked just giddy to be by her side. Lily gestured towards the Gryffindor table for them to sit, but the boy made a shifty glance and started walking the other way. She caught Remus' stare and even from a distance he could see her eyes light up. She gave him a warm wave and Remus awkwardly lifted his arm to return the gesture. He watched her say something to the boy, now pointing in his direction, but the boy’s eyes turned to slits and he pulled Lily closer to him to whisper something in her ear. Lily’s eyes widened, and she made one last glance at Remus and his new friends before following the boy over to the other table. 

“Hello? Remus? Who are you waving at?” Remus snapped his attention back to the table where both Sirius and James had turned their heads to follow his gaze. 

“Ah, it's nothing. I just met that girl the other night.” Remus looked down at his food and pushed his mash a bit with a spoon. He wondered what that boy had said to make Lily not want to come over.

“Lily Evans?” James’ face went a little pink and his shoulders straightened. “She sits in front of me in Potions—-she smells nice.” 

Sirius made a snorting sound. “Why are you smelling people, mate? Disgusting!” 

“Dude! Totally not what I meant! Remus, tell Sirius that I’m not smelling people for fun!”

The boys started a bit of a shoving match before settling back down.

“Besides,” James continued, still looking perky and flushed, “She’s hanging around Snivellus, so no wonder she smells good–she has to shower off his stench every few hours..”

Sirius guffawed and almost knocked himself off the bench. Remus said nothing but looked back over to where Lily and this so-called Snivellus were sitting. He knew that James was being mean, but there did seem to be a discrepancy between the pair.

“Oi, Lupin! You coming?” Sirius and James had resolved their tussle and were now standing to leave. 

“You should think about asking Polmer to switch dorm rooms with you—we’ve been needing a third for exploding snap…”

Second Year

“2001, A Space Odyssey.”

“Seen it.”

“The Wicker Man?”

“Hell yeah. Definitely, of course.”

“Werewolves on Wheels?”

Remus stopped chewing his licorice wand. Him and Lily finished their charms essay an hour ago and had delved into the finer topics of muggle cinema. Since the end of first year, Lily had sidled up to him as a means to “talk muggle “( her words) and he was usually happy to play along, but this line of questioning was starting to overstay its welcome. 

“Er–no.” He said flatly. She squinted at him and chewed at the end of a sugar quill. 

“Hm, so, not too big on monster of the week films then—judging by the way you became so icy.” 

Remus could feel his face flush, but Lily just let out a laugh. 

“Ah, cheer up Remus, I’m just messing with you. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of them either but every once in a while they’re a good laugh.”

Remus felt his head nod, but his body felt completely sunken into the ground. It was still new that James ( and subsequently Sirius) had found out about his condition. Honestly, he couldn’t have asked for better: both boys kept to their word and remained discreet all while remaining his friend. If he could get over the complete terror of it all, perhaps he would find that it was a bit relieving for someone to know. 

James and Sirius ran through the library doors, ignoring Mme. Pince’s hiss in their direction. They sauntered over to the table and James slowed to a halt, eyes locked on Lily while shifting his weight. 

“Oi, Remus!” Sirius panted, “We just put a dung bomb in the girls bathroom on the third floor. Come sit with us while we wait for it to blow over,” he glanced over at Lily before adding, “Oh hey Evans.”

“Hi—Evans,” James echoed from behind his mate. It was clear his face was flushed from something other than running. 

Lily crossed her arms and turned her head away from the two. Remus bounced his gaze between Lily and the boys for a second before making a split decision. 

“I’ll be there in a bit—I was just finishing some work with Lily.” 

Sirius looked between him and Lily then snatched up a licorice wand for himself.

“Alrighty then,” he said smoothly, “Take your time.” He walked away and James followed after him, turning and gazing back multiple times before they turned the corner. Once they were gone Lily let out a huff.

“Honestly, Remus,” she started, “of all the idiots in this entire castle to spend time with…”

Third Year

Remus didn’t care much for Cokeworth, but he did like to visit Lily. Despite the identical brick houses, neighbors tried to spruce up the street with flowers and various mementos of summertime. They walked down the path towards the old creek at the edge of town, Lily’s arm hanging loosely from his as she talked. 

“I don’t get it, Tuney and I used to be really good friends.” 

Remus nodded. He had learned long ago that when Lily needed to vent about her sister, he just needed to be quiet and sympathetic. 

“Now, she hardly looks at me–I mean you just saw! She had no reason to treat you like she did just now. Honestly, I can’t believe her.” Lily’s arm tightened on his and he gave her a reassuring pat. 

On the other end of the lane, something darted out onto the sidewalk and started towards them. Severus Snape was now in his normal clothes, a rather oversized black shirt and jeans too baggy for his skinny legs. He stopped just paces away from them, his eyes wide and his hands curled into balls at his waist. 

“Sev!” Lily waved her free arm and made a little bounce on the balls of her feet. She might have been happy to see him, but Remus could feel Snape’s gaze burning into him and more specifically where his and Lily’s arms were linked. 

“I was just coming to see you.” His voice was just above a whisper. 

“Oh, bugger! Remus came to visit and I was going to show him the creek—care to join?”

If Lily recognized that the two boys were having a conversation with their eyes, then she was ignoring it. 

“No. It's fine.” Snape spit out. Lily dropped Remus’ arm and took a step forward towards her friend. Her eyebrows were stitched into a frown. 

“Sev? Hey, What’s wrong—did your mum…?”

Snape’s eyes widened and he took a step away from them. 

“I said I’m fine—I’ll see you later.” Snape pushed past Lily and Remus, stomping back towards town. 

“Well.” Lily scoffed. “I guess everyone in Cokeworth has decided to be a right git today.”

She reached out for Remus’ arm which he gladly accepted. 

Fourth Year

“I’m sorry you’re poorly again.” Lily kicked into the darkness of the corridor. They had both been rewarded as prefects over the summer and Lily had practically begged for them to be patrolling mates. The only issue with having somewhere to be on a weekly basis was that it was now easier to track exactly how “sick” he was every month. 

“Are you sure there isn’t any sort of potion we can make? Something to make it…easier?” She teetered off. 

“Nah, don’t worry about it Lils. I just got back luck.” Lily stayed silent as they walked. He knew what must be running through her mind—he wasn’t a fool. Since last year, Snape had been trying his hardest to find out what he and the boys were up to. With his prying he was bound to start to catch on, and no doubt tell Lily about it…

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Lily didn’t look up at him, rather sliding her arm in his like she had gotten used to. Remus could feel his heart pound. No no no no. not here. He wasn’t prepared to lose a friend like this: in the middle of a bloody corridor on patrols. 

“Well, I heard that James Potter saved Sev the other night.” She continued, “---why did he do that? I mean, they hate each other.” Her voice sounded small. He could tell something was battling in her mind, and she felt conflicted on how to proceed. 

“Er, yeah. I dunno. James hasn’t said much—” He was lying through his teeth. Of course he knew what had happened, but it wasn’t like he was going to offer that information up to her. What would he even say? Yes Lily, you see I’m actually a werewolf and your pal Sev tried to out me.

“Well—I dunno. He’s your mate. I just—it was nice of him.” Lily finally stammered out. Remus glanced over to find that Lily’s cheeks were slightly red and she was averting her eyes to some invisible point beyond them. 

A warm relief ran over him. Crisis averted.

“I mean, James is a good bloke—I know he’s a little rough around the edges,” Lily made a snorting sound, “But he’s a good guy—really Lily. He is.” Remus finished. 

Lily went silent again and listened to their footsteps echo down the halls. After a few minutes, she suddenly halted, causing him to also stop.

“Hey Remus?” She turned to him and before he could even respond her lips were on his. The kiss lasted seconds, maybe less. He couldn’t deny that her mouth was soft and James was right to say she smelled good all the way back in first year. But something was missing. In his dreams, he always imagined his first kiss to be like being suspended in midair—a revelation to crack open his world. Instead, he was still firmly on the ground in the corridor, feeling underwhelmed and anxious. 

Lily pulled away and burst out laughing. She keeled over and crossed her arms over her stomach to hold back her loud cackles. Remus stood frozen, feeling a complete sense of whiplash. Had she gone mad?

“Oh christ, I’m so sorry,” she choked out. She righted herself, letting the last of her laughter trickle out of her. Once fully composed and started again. 

“So, how was that then–I mean for you?” 

Remus just stared at her. She must have gone mad. What other explanation would he have for her acting like this?

“Uh. I dunno? —you kissed me I guess.” 

“Ok, yes. And did you like it?”

“What’d mean?” He was still completely lost. 

“Like would you want to do it again?” 

Now it was his turn to stare at nothing in particular. On one hand, Lily was a nice girl. Fit, smart—everything he would want. But on the other hand, he couldn’t deny that he was feeling nothing, perhaps next to nothing besides the glaring alarms going off in his brain about how James would feel about this interaction. 

“Look–” he began. He hadn’t expected to be turning his best lady mate down in his lifetime, nor really knew how. Thankfully he didn’t have to do much. 

“Ah save it,” Lily gave his cheek a little pinch. “I can tell you didn’t feel it either.”

Remus shook his head. “Uh���what?”

“We didn’t feel it. That thing. You know the thing that makes you want to date someone?”

Remus blinked a few times. Ok, so she was either emotionally brilliant beyond her years or mad— or both. 

“Honestly, I’m glad for it—sorry to make it awkward. But at least now we know and can remain friends knowing that there’s nothing under the surface, yeah?”

She locked her arms back with him again and pulled him back into a slow walk. By the time they made it back to the portrait hole, all of the shock had melted and Remus started to come back to his senses. 

He had kissed Lily. Kissed Lily. The bird that James quite literally talked in his sleep about. The girl that had been his friend since first year. Kissed. It didn’t matter if they both felt nothing—that Lily had used the kiss as just a tool for understanding their relationship. They had kissed. 

“Look—you can’t tell James.” He blurted it out without thinking. Lily turned to him, eyes as slits and arms crossing over her chest. 

“Is that right? Why? Because he has some sort of dibs on me and it would hurt his arrogant ego to hear that we kissed–even if it was nothing.”

“I mean—yeah actually. Exactly that. Well, not the dibs part but, you get it.” 

Lily continued to stare pointedly at Remus. 

“Lily please. He’s my best mate.”

“I’m not his property.”

“Yeah but I’m his best mate.”

Lily closed her eyes and made a deep sigh, clearly folding. 

“Fine. Fine. I guess it wasn’t like I was going to offer up the information anyways,” she conceded. 

“Thank you, really.” Lily rolled her eyes. 

“You boys are so fucking weird.” Without turning back, she swung open the portrait hole and entered before he could respond. 

Fifth Year

“I can’t believe him. That stupid git. Did you know, he was playing a Beatles song on repeat at three in the morning the other night?”

“Yeah, we sleep in the same tower, Lily.”

“And how he keeps running his hands through his hair. I wish I could just hex his hand off.”

“Right.”

“And did you see him snogging Jessica Clarebow after the game yesterday? God, what a disgusting display–”

“Ok now, I would hardly call that a snog–she kissed him, that’s all.”

“Well it was revolting whatever you want to call it and–”

“And maybe you are jealous?”

Remus stopped in his tracks. It was the wrong thing to say. The worst thing to have said. If he wasn’t feeling so peaky on the approaching full moon maybe he would’ve thought before he spoke, but it had been hours of listening to her prattle off about James—there’s only so much a bloke could handle. 

Lily’s emotional temperature dropped from frigid to blazing hot with fury in a matter of seconds. She whipped her head around to face him, pointing her illuminated wand in his face, causing the man in the portrait behind him to grumble.

“I’m sorry. So sorry.” Remus knew a lost battle when he saw one. The only thing left to do was to plead for his life. 

“You think I’m jealous? Jealous of Potter?” She clenched her teeth.

“Er, I guess in this case you would be jealous of Jessica—” Lily’s eyes erupted anew and Remus shrunk back away from her wand. 

Lily stared for a beat then made a big vocal sigh, dropping her wand. Her face was tinged red and Remus honestly couldn’t tell if it was from anger or from embarrassment of being caught in her feelings. 

“Did I mention I’m sorry?” He offered again. 

Lily had fully deflated her anger and stepped away, somewhat sheepish. She chewed the inside of her cheek and ran a finger through the ends of her hair. 

“No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have jumped you like that—I just—Potter gets to me sometimes you know.”

Oh fuck, do I know. “I think he gets to all of us sometimes—in a whole spectrum of ways.”

Lily walked a couple short steps towards the end of the corridor and flopped herself onto a stone bench. 

“I just keep thinking that if he hadn’t done that thing to Sev…”

She was talking about last week at the lake. Remus had already expressed his remorse for not stopping his mates many times since the incident, but Lily’s mind seemed stuck in a never ending loop of that day. 

“Lily, I think even if James hadn’t been a prick, you and Snape would have had to call it quits.”

Lily pulled a knee up to her chest and leaned her chin on it. In the wand light, he could see that tears were threatening to fall. 

“Did I tell you he tried to apologize to me—Sev I mean—that night? Bloody came to the tower threatening to sleep there.”

This was news to Remus. She had rehashed that day many times but had conveniently left out this development. All this time he had been under the impression that Snape now wanted nothing to do with her.

“---I told him I couldn’t be his friend. I did that. I don’t know how to feel—what if could have changed–”

“Lily,” Remus had sat down next to her now and took her hand. She was shaking underneath him.

“You can’t play that game. He chose his path…and–” Remus tried to choose his words carefully,” –and unfortunately that path means actively working against you.”

“Then why would he have begged me to forgive him?” Lily sniffled. Clearly this evening’s theme was denial. 

“Well–I think because he fancies you.” He didn’t mean for it to come out so blunt but it did. 

Lily’s eyebrows raised under her fringe. She dropped his hand.

“Come off it.”

“Lily.”

“You’re having a laugh.”

“Lily.”

“Oh god.”

She buried her face into her hands, now cradling both legs against her chest. Remus awkwardly stroked her back, not sure how to comfort in this scenario. 

“Is that why he and James hate each other so much?” She squeaked out from behind her fingers.

“Prolly doesn’t help.” 

“Oh GOD.”

Remus let her curl herself further into a ball, while keeping his hand brushing up and down her back in attempted consolation. 

“Maybe I should just give it all up, live in the woods alone like some creepy fairytale witch. Convince everyone I eat babies or something.”

“Ah, I think you are too pretty for that. Sorry to ruin your dreams.”

 Lily squinted at him up over her hands. He could tell he made her smile, if only for a moment. 

“At least you’re a good bloke. Though, you have questionable choices in best mates.”

“I’ll take it.” She uncoiled herself, leaning a head on his shoulder. He briefly reflected that if James ever saw them like this, he would probably shit himself. It's fine. He needs to feel the sting of any emotion other than pride once and a while.

“Hey Lily.”

“Hmm.” 

“I think you’re really great. Fuck Snape…and fuck James too—though that last bit comes with a long footnote about how I only mean “fuck James” when he’s being a prick and not generally because he can actually be pretty great if you let him.”

Lily snorted against his shoulder. 

“Wow, congrats on making the first verbal footnote.”

“Someone had to do it.”

Sixth Year

“Remus! I asked Rosmerta and she said we could use the–”

“No.”

“You didn’t even let me finish my thought!” Sirius whined.

“Don’t have to.”

“Mate, I don’t understand why your birthday has to be a struggle every year,” James piped in. 

“It doesn’t—you lot are the ones struggling.”

There was a swift noise of feet running, then Remus' vision went black behind two vaguely feminine feeling hands. 

“Woah Evans, don’t know if you are aware, but that’s not how you greet normal humans–”

“Fuck off Black,” Lily hissed, “Remus you are gonna wig out. I got you the best birthday present.”

She removed her hands and moved to stand in front of him. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet, taking on a childlike energy. 

“Close your eyes and hold out your hands.” 

“Lily—you didn’t have to–”

“C’mon don’t fight it please, I don’t have the heart for it today—some space Black? Potter?” Despite her demand, neither boy backed away, rather pressing in out of curiosity. Remus could see that James was avoiding everyone’s gaze, looking rather red under the rim of his glasses. 

Remus complied. Lily took one of his hands and faced it palm up in front of his chest, then laid what felt like cardstock into it. 

Remus opened his eyes. They were tickets. Not just any tickets. David Bowie tickets.

“Oh great! You got him scraps of paper!” Sirius chided but Lily ignored him. 

The breath went out of Remus' lungs. The feeling of floating, the feeling of arriving on a different planet entirely where every source of joy was abundant and good and just. Dear sweet Jesus David Bowie tickets.

“Lily, I can't accept this. It must have cost a fortune—I heard it was nearly impossible ....”

“Shut up and accept them, besides you are the only person I’d ever want to see him with anyways.” 

“Hey, HEY. I wanna go!” Realizing now what exactly the present was, Sirius began rushing at Remus’ still outstretched hand. As quick as possible, he shut his palm and pulled the tickets away before Sirius could make a swipe at them. 

“No way Black! This is for Remus and me only.” At the words, James’ face became even more red. He moved to run a hand through his hair, but opted for stuffing them into his pockets. 

Sirius recovered from his disappointment quickly, now dawning a mischievous grin. 

“Alright then Evans. But then how do you expect to see this aforementioned concert if it is on a school day?” It was a good question, but Lily was unfazed. 

“What, like you lot have never snuck out of school before? Him and I will just do whatever the fuck you all do whenever you go off to have your little foursome snogs at night.”

Remus snorted at the audacity of her cheekiness. Sirius also found it amusing, but James stayed stock still. 

“You are welcome to make our foursome snogs a fivesome if you ever–”

Lily shot daggers at Sirius, who promptly abandoned his thought. She turned back to Remus and made a little squeal. “See you around 8? Make sure to wear something fab!” 

***********

“James nothing happened.”

“Sure.”

“C’mon mate, you know me. I don’t fancy Lily. It was an honest mistake.”

“It’s none of my business who you fancy Moony, you are welcome to do what you like.”

“Ah, fuck off with that.”

Remus had fucked up. He had fucked up bad. It was bad enough that James had dodged him ever since Lily had given him the tickets. Then, when Lily showed up at eight wearing an outfit that plunged down to her stomach and hugged every point in her body, James sulked in the corner of the common room, pretending to polish his broom while stealing glances as they walked out the portrait hole together. 

But then he somehow made it worse. Way worse. Irreversibly, friendship destroyingly so. 

The concert was not Lily's only gift. She had also gotten drugs. The muggle kind, that changed your brain chemistry on science alone. Feeling in a rather “it's my birthday and I’ll probably never be out past curfew with a girl dressed like this, seeing an artist I would gladly become a slave for for the rest of eternity” mood, he took them with her.

Perhaps the biggest insult to injury of this whole mess was that, in her brain warped, giddy state, Lily had actually confessed that she was into James after the concert. Even admitted to hoping he would see her in the dress to make him sweat or jealous or a nice combination of the two. He had been happy for her, and they had giggled their way down the back streets of London talking about how much James was gonna flip when he eventually, maybe, found out about it—if she ever got the courage to do so. 

When they made it back to the common room, they had all the intention of eating some chocolate, playing a few records, then going to bed. What they hadn’t planned on was to fall asleep, leaning on each other in front of the fireplace where Miles Tambor would find them early morning on his way to Quidditch practice. Remus thanked all the gods above it wasn’t James, but the damage was done all the same and the rumor made it around the school by lunch. 

“You can ask her…fuck, I’ll make up a truth serum if you want—we fell asleep. I’m so bloody stupid. I need you to forgive me.”

“Like I said, it's none of my business. I’m glad it was a good birthday—now, I need to get to class so if you don’t mind…” James walked past him, shoving his hands into his pockets. Thin red blotches rimmed the underpart of his eyes. Clearly he had been crying. 

James was not at the dinner table when Remus arrived in the Great Hall. Sirius and Peter were leaning over the table, talking to Marlene and Mary in low tones, stopping the conversation as he approached. 

“Go on. No need to stop on my account.” He threw himself on the bench beside Peter and aggressively started to butter a roll. 

“Mate—you need to tell it to us straight. Did you and Evans…”

“NO,” he had raised his voice too high and he knew it. The rest of the tables turned to watch them, whispers erupting around the room. 

“I feel like a bloody idiot. We fell asleep. I tried to tell James but he—”

James entered the Great Hall. His face was flushed and as eyes turned to watch him make his way over to the table, he ran a hand through his hair to dispel anxiety. 

Without any greeting, he plopped himself down next to Sirius and started piling some mash on his plate. 

Sirius sat with his hands frozen in midair, eyebrows so high up they disappeared under his hair. 

“Alright, so am I actually gonna have to be the adult here? Because that’s not really my style.”

James took a sip of pumpkin juice with a deliberate gulp. 

“No worries mate. It’s fine.”

Sirius’ eyebrows somehow found a higher spot on his face.

“Like how fine? Fine like “it's all good” or fine like a Black family reunion where everyone acts all proper for .5 seconds before a bloodbath begins and all the sudden you have no home or family?”

“The first one—though maybe you should talk to someone about that second definition.” James took a bite of a roll, still not making eye contact. His cheeks had not lost their hues of pink and red. 

“James—” Remus ventured.

“I’m being serious. It’s really fine. I had a chat with Evans. She cleared up everything.”

Now it was Remus’ eyebrows turn to disappear on his face. 

“You actually asked her?”

“Mhm.”

“And what did she say?”

James shrugged. For the first time in the evening he looked at Remus. The sadness was gone, but something else was rumbling underneath the surface he could not really pinpoint. It wasn’t anger, but it seemed just as profound.

“She said nothing happened. You both fell asleep.”

“And you believe her.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you wouldn’t believe me. Your best mate.”

James shrugged and went back to his meal. It was clear that he wanted to drop it. He started talking to Peter about astrology notes while Sirius made shifty glances but otherwise relaxed. After dinner, things went back to normal. A very tenuous, charged version of it at least. 

That night at patrols, Remus intercepted her on the way down to the dungeons. 

“Lily, I wanted to apologize again.”

“Remus, it's fine. I’m sorry. I should have woken us up to get our arses to bed. I think the worst of the rumor mill is over at least so we can breathe easy.”

Remus shifted his weight, not knowing how to proceed. 

“Er, James told me he talked to you.” A flash of red cropped up on Lily’s face. She averted her eyes. 

“Uh, yeah. We spoke.”

“Not to pry, but what did you—”

Lily cut him off. Her voice sounded higher, anxious. “I told him what I’ve told everybody. The truth. Besides, It’s none of his business.”

Remus’ brow furrowed. There was something familiar about the way her eyes were looking, like a rumbling of something. An over pouring of emotion not quite her usual fiery disgust, but something else. 

“I gotta go Remus. Talk later.” She gave him a peck on the cheek as she had always done, but this time it felt charged. Like it left a stain on his face. 

“Right. See you.”